EU Peace Mediation in a Nutshell
religious groups, local communities, including women and
The EU engages in peace mediation, as part of preventive
diplomacy, as a key tool of conflict prevention and
resolution globally. Peace mediation covers a wide range
of activities, including facilitation of community level
dialogues, supporting local cease fire negotiations and
mediating between leaders of conflict parties. The overall
objective is to prevent disputes from developing into
violent conflict and to avoid further escalation of conflicts.
Since the adoption of the 2009 ‘EU Concept on
Strengthening EU Mediation and Dialogue Capacities’, the
EU has become more active, coordinated and focused in
peace mediation. The EU has, during the past decade,
assumed a role in most national peace processes
(examples here below).
To match new realities, a new Concept on EU Peace
Mediation was adopted together with Council Conclusions
in December 2020. First ever EEAS Guidelines on Peace
Mediation accompany the new Concept and support EU
mediators and implementing partners in translating EU
mediation principles in practise. These documents provide
the EU with a solid basis for using peace mediation as a
tool of first instance.
The new Concept sets an ambitious stance for the EU in
global peace mediation. It stresses the EU’s role as a
value-based actor: its engagements are based on the core
values of inclusion, human dignity, gender equality,
freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect
and promotion of human rights. An evidence-based
approach, climate awareness, multilateralism and
partnerships are further key guiding principles of EU peace
mediation.
The EU engages in mediation where it has comparative
advantage in relation to other mediation actors, where
there are entry points for EU mediation and where it can
make a useful contribution to sustained peace.
Throughout its engagements, the EU strives to ensure
meaningful involvement of all levels and segments of
society, ranging from political leaders to civil society,
young generations.
EU Mediation Roles and Tools
The EU engages in a range of mediation roles to support
peace processes:
 Leading mediation: Acting as a third party,
engaging the leadership of a country and the
representatives of conflict parties.
 Facilitating mediation and opening dialogue
spaces.
 Accompanying mediation: Creating ground for
talks, promoting inclusive processes or witnessing
proceedings, assuming guarantor roles.
 Coordinating mediation: Contributing to a
cohesive and inclusive process.
 Supporting mediation efforts of others:
Capacity building, training, logistical support and
expertise.
 Leveraging mediation through diplomatic
actions and/or economic credence.
 Supporting mediation outcomes: Using
political, diplomatic, trade, cooperation and civilian
and military crisis management to support parties
in implementing agreements.
 Funding mediation: Financial support to formal,
informal and grassroots mediation processes and
to the extended mediation community.
 Promoting mediation and good practices in
peace processes.
The EEAS Mediation Support Team (MST), within the
ISP.2 Division, is operational since 2011. It provides
advice on mediation process design and technical
expertise on the key aspects of mediation and dialogue.
The EEAS geographic divisions, EUSRs and EU
Delegations can draw on the MST for advice and support
with regard to assessing mediation opportunities,
supporting existing mediation efforts or building mediation
capacity.
In June 2020, the EEAS established a Pool of EU Peace
Mediators to strengthen the EU’s mediation outreach and
operational capacity. Its members hail from all EEAS
geographic Managing Directorates and combine
geographic and thematic expertise.
An EEAS Mediation Task Force at Managing Director
level provides political oversight of EU mediation
opportunities and assignments and oversees the
implementation of actions in selected priority countries.
ISP.2 can also draw from a pool of external mediation
experts to support EU staff. Furthermore, the European
Resources for Mediation Support-project (ERMES),
managed by FPI, allows the provision of assistance to
conflict parties, third party mediators and groups
participating in inclusive peace processes on short notice.
Mediation Support Team in Action
How do you engage with radical groups, how to support a
National Dialogue process, what are key elements of a
peace process and how to sequence them, how to engage
best with the UN on these issues? These are some of the
questions MST can respond to. Some examples of MST
activities include:
1. Operational Support and Expert Deployments: the
MST can be deployed at short notice to provide mediation
support to EU Delegations, EUSR offices, CSDP missions
or other relevant EU actors. It can also draw on a facility
that has access to over 70 specialised external experts.
2. Coaching and training: the MST can deliver one-to-
one, team and group coaching and training across a range
of topics related to peace processes and mediation.
3. Knowledge management: EU mediation work relies on
critical and constructive lesson-learning from past
engagements and thematic expertise and guidance on
issues such as power sharing or ceasefire mechanisms.
4. Partnerships and outreach: The EU collaborates
closely with the UN on mediation, co-financing the UN
Standby Team of Mediation Experts and drawing on UN
Mediation Experts for specific assignments. Working
together on specific processes, such as the UN Special
Envoy for Syria or the Special Envoy for Yemen, brings an
added value to peace processes. Furthermore, the EEAS
has standing partnerships on mediation support with the
EU Member States, regional organisations (including
OSCE, AU and ASEAN), NGOs and academic institutions.
The EU Mediation Support Team (ISP.2):
ISP.2 Division – Conflict Prevention and Mediation
Support, EU External Action Service
ISP-2@eeas.europa.eu
EU Mediation Support Examples
 Afghanistan: In 2019 the EU launched the
Afghanistan Peace Support Mechanism with its
implementing partner Sida. It contributes to the
preparation and implementation of an Afghan-led
and -owned peace process, responsive to the
needs of all Afghans, including women and youth,
in Afghanistan and abroad. It focuses on
confidence-building, connecting stakeholders,
peace education and technical, thematic and
logistical support to peace efforts.
 Central African Republic: The EU provided
mediation support throughout the negotiations
leading to the peace agreement signed in
February 2019. It also advised on the coordination
of the post agreement mediation support. The EU
follows up closely with ECCAS and other partners
to bring the peace agreement back on track.
 Georgia: The EU is a mediator of the Six Point
Plan between Russia and Georgia and co-
facilitator of the Geneva International Discussions.
The MST has provided training and coaching and
organised workshops with the UN and OSCE, as
well as with the EUMM.
 The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue: is an example
of direct “at the table” EU mediation. The EEAS
led the first, so-called technical phase, between
2011 and 2012. Nine agreements were brokered
during this phase and working groups were
created for every issue to follow implementation.
The EU-lead negotiations picked up again in 2020.
 Mali: The EU has acted as guarantor of the Algiers
agreement, and supports its implementation
through political facilitation, monitoring and
funding. It supports community mediation and
dialogues, i.a. around disputes related to natural
resources.
 Philippines: The EU enhanced its engagement in
Mindanao by supporting the peace process with
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, including
capacity building in the transition to the future
Bangsamoro administration as well as continued
support to inter-Bangsamoro dialogue.
 Syria: The EU works to ensure the continuation of
the peace process through the Syria Peace
Initiative. It contributes to enhancing the Syrian
moderate opposition's capacity and opportunities
to engage in the UN-led peace process, including
by enhancing the role of Syrian women, i.a.
through the Gaziantep Women Platform.
 Yemen: The MST supports coordination with the
UN at different levels, advises on economic peace
process issues and has provided advice on
ceasefire and de-escalation mechanisms. The EU
provides for a digital ceasefire monitoring tool and
co-facilitates a technical ceasefire working group.
It promotes inclusive approaches to peace-
making through the steering of several Track II
(Regional power figures, e.g. religious dignitaries,
academics, intellectuals) initiatives in the country.